#MyDiwali - What Diwali means to me

21 September 2016

This year, we’re sharing people’s thoughts on what the Diwali festival means to them. Sanjay Gadhvi is the Chair of the Diwali in London Committee. He’s shared with us his #MyDiwali..

Diwali is the biggest and the brightest of all Hindu festivals celebrated around the world. It's the festival of lights which literally illumines homes with its brilliance, brightness and dazzles us with its joy.

Just as we start this year’s Diwali celebrations, I think of these 5 simple yet life illuminating messages:

One – A Brand New Beginning
Diwali marks the beginning of a new Hindu New Year. It rejuvenates us with a sense of freshness and renewed enthusiasm.

Two – Light over Darkness
It is the celebration of the triumph of good over evil, as depicted in the story of Lord Rama’s victory over Ravana. We remind ourselves that no matter how much difficult things might seem, the forces of good will always be triumphant in the end.

Three – Spiritual Wealth
It is also the day when people practice faith in the ability of God to bless them with wealth. The greatest wealth one can possess is spiritual wealth, sincerity and faith.

Four – Dispelling Darkness and Ignorance
It is also a time to clean our minds by dropping all negative baggage from the past. We can choose to cleanse our hearts and fill them with love and compassion that will drive away the darkness of hatred and ignorance.

Five – Appreciating Family

It is the time when the whole family gets together for the festival. We work together, pray together and appreciate each other.